Research Week at Western Sydney showcases University’s global impact

Western Sydney University opened its doors to celebrate the wide range of research making a difference to the community at the University's flagship Research Week event.

Research Week is an opportunity for staff, students and the community to see the exciting facilities and talent at the University, and celebrate how research can make lasting changes, both locally and internationally.

Events held throughout the week included the University's annual Yarramundi lecture, the Health Showcase, Research Impact Competition, The Marriage Equality Debate and the Higher Degree Research Showcase.

The Research Impact Competition gave 12 finalists from across the University five minutes to highlight the ways their research has made significant differences to the broader community. 

Dr Ian Wright was awarded First Place and People's Choice awards for his scientific and community work to alleviate the lasting effects of coalmines in Sydney's rivers.

The University also showcased a number of researchers making a difference to the local and international community.

Dr John Drake from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment explained how a unique tree chamber experiment is helping the University analyse the potential effect of global warming on Australian flora.

Also in the spotlight was research from the School of Nursing and Midwifery investigating why peripheral intravenous cannulas are prone to failure. Researchers enlisted the help of medical professionals working around the world for an international audit. In total, hundreds of doctors and nurses from over 50 countries joined the study. 

In addition, focus was placed on researchers from Western Sydney University have joined with councils, charities, libraries and other agencies to find ways to provide emergency digital access to those who need it the most.

Research Week came as Western Sydney University was again named as one of the world's top 400 universities, with the release of the 2016 US News Best Global Universities Ranking.

Western Sydney University is now placed 384th in the world, and the University's increasing research output saw it ranked 192nd in the world for the production of scholarly books.

Western Sydney University is now ranked in all major University global rankings, including Times Higher Education (THE), Academic World Ranking of Universities (AWRU) and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Ends

1 November 2016

Mark Smith and Elliott Richardson - Media Unit